SAVE THE DATE: Congressman Mike Simpson (ID) to Receive Vento Award in June

On June 5, 2013 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. National Park Trust will honor Congressman Mike Simpson with the 13th Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award. Since 2001, NPT has given this award to honor the memory and legacy of Bruce F. Vento, a twelve-term Congressman from Minnesota, dedicated environmentalist and a champion of legislation for America's parks.

NPT will recognize Congressman Simpson for his outstanding record in park preservation and environmental stewardship. He currently serves as Chair of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. “I am honored to receive this award and humbled to be recognized by the National Park Trust…it is easy for me to recognize how valuable our national parks system is and to be an advocate for it, both in my role as a Member of Congress and as an American citizen,” said Congressman Mike Simpson.

All proceeds from the event will be used to support our programs including our park preservation projects, Kids to Parks National Scholarship Fund and National Kids to Parks Day. Click here to read the full press release on the 2013 Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award.

For more information, to become a sponsor or purchase a ticket, contact: Shana Newman Fajardo: (301) 279-7275 ext. 15 ; shana@parktrust.org

1683 Students to Benefit from Kids to Parks Day School Contest

NPT congratulates the winners of our National Kids to Parks Day chool contest! More than twice the number of entries were received this year over last year from students in grades preK through 12th.

The 42 classroom winners were announced on March 18th at www.kidstoparks.org and represent 21 states. As a result 1683 students' dreams of celebrating National Kids to Parks Day at a local park will come true -- from Washington state to Kansas to Mississippi to Delaware! We received wonderful artwork, letters and videos from the students. A complete list of winners is provided here.

Health and Wellness: Provide outdoor recreation activities planned for the day

Each park scholarship provides bus funding for the students plus costs to cover supplies, park fees, and healthy snacks and water.

NPT thanks Southern Company Charitable Foundation, Inc. and Caesars Foundation for their very generous support of this program!

Funding Ideas Presented to Sustain the National Parks for their 2nd Century

On March 19th, the National Park Trust participated in a seminar on “Building a More Sustainable Future for America’s National Parks”. The seminar, sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), and the National Parks Hospitality Association (NPHA) promoted a discussion on sustainable supplementary funding ideas for America’s National Parks.

Also presented at the seminar were the results of survey research commissioned by the NPCA and the NPHA and conducted by Hart Research Associates & Northstar Opinion Research during the summer of 2012. Their survey shows that nearly nine out of ten Americans of voting age feel it is important for the federal government to protect and support the National Parks even in these difficult fiscal times. Importantly, these views were equally held regardless of political orientation or party affiliation.

Celebrate National Park Week & Get a Free Pass to the Parks!

From April 22-26, national park units across the country will host special events and activities in celebration of National Park Week – a week first proclaimed in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Park Service and to encourage everyone to get outside exploring our country’s most treasured natural resources.

What’s even better is that entrance fees will be waived at all national park sites across the country – with that many parks coast to coast you are sure to find an event in your community. Check out NPS’ National Park Week Event Calendar to find a fun, FREE event for you and your family.

As we prepare to celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service, NPT is celebrating it's own milestone: three decades of park preservation! NPT was founded in 1983 as a land conservancy and to date has completed more than 100 land preservation and acquisition projects. Then in 2009 to address the growing disconnect between kids and nature, NPT launched our nationally recognized Kids to Parks programs featuring our loveable woolly mascot, Buddy Bison. We thank all of you for your steadfast support of our mission: preserving parks today; creating parks stewards for tomorrow.

So have a slice of cake today to celebrate our milestone year and consider making a birthday gift to support our mission today by clicking here! Then grab your shoes and a water bottle and go for a hike in a park!

Also, stay turned for details about our National Kids to Parks Day Facebook Contest! Starting the week of April 15 we will surprise one lucky winner with a park prize pack each week during the four weeks leading up to Kids to Parks Day. "Like us" on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nationalparktrust to get full contest details!

Buddy Bison

Buddy Bison, our lovable woolly mascot encourages kids to explore outdoors, the parks are yours! Visit the Buddy Bison section of our site to learn more about our school program, and how you can get your own Buddy Bison and share your park adventures and photos. Did you know that proceeds from Buddy Bison sales help us get under-served kids to their local parks?

Subscribe to NPT News

* indicates required

Full Name *

Email Address *

NPT Selected for NPS Centennial Challenge Project

We are honored to be selected for a $450K match as part of the NPS Centennial Challenge Project to enhance and expand our youth programs! Read more here.

NPT Welcomes Steve Schuler to Our Board of Trustees

"I am very pleased to be a part of National Park Trust’s board during this very exciting time as we approach the centennial celebration.”

NPT Welcomes Carolyn Cohen to Our Leadership Council"I believe that as educators, we have a commitment to teach our youth the importance of sustaining parkland, empowering them as stewards to preserve our national treasures." Read More.